The 1990s

Facilities:

The ECU closed its doors in 1993, and the following year, Children Services moved to its present downtown Toledo location at 705 Adams Street. The 15-building, 71-acre Maumee campus, which for 108 years had housed orphans, abused and neglected children and child welfare staff, closed for good.

Services:
Through the 1990’s, County Children Services continued to emphasize the need for children to live in a family environment – with their birth families if possible – as opposed to institutional or group home placement. In 1997, the White House presented LCCS with the federal “Adoption Excellence Award” for reducing the amount of time children wait for permanent homes.

Throughout the decade, LCCS served an average of 11,250 children and 4,500 families annually, and conducted an average of 3,663 investigations per year.

In 1999, LCCS developed a strategic plan that included a new mission statement and a commitment to family-centered, neighborhood-based (FCNB) services. The FCNB approach to services recognizes that clients are best served in their own neighborhoods, as opposed to having to travel to LCCS offices or to service providers not located close to their homes.

In the late 1990’s, LCCS developed a parenting program that has since gained national recognition. The agency also created a quality improvement division, post-adoption services and post-emancipation services.

Finances:

Taxpayers continued their commitment to child welfare in Lucas County, as the agency’s two tax levies enjoyed wide support. LCCS was also very aggressive in its pursuit of federal and state funds, and as a result was in a very strong financial position by the late 1990’s.